Method for predicting a travel time for a traffic route

Abstract

A system for predicting a travel time for a traffic route is disclosed. The traffic route comprises one or more road segments. A predicted travel time for each of those segments is calculated based, in part, on traffic speed data for each of the one or more road segments. A total travel time is then calculated for the route, the total travel time including a predicted travel time for each of the one or more road segments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for travel forecasting, the system comprising:
 a plurality of online data sources, wherein at least one data source stores information regarding one or more past traffic conditions pertaining to one or more road segments at a past time of day, and wherein at least one other data source provides information regarding one or more real-time traffic conditions pertaining to one or more road segments at a current time of day; and   a user device comprising:
 a user interface that receives a user selection indicative of a time interval and a plurality of road segments, 
 a communication interface that receives past and real-time information regarding the selected plurality of road segments, wherein the retrieved information pertains to the selected time interval, and 
 a processor that executes instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor:
 generate a travel estimate for each selected road segment, wherein the travel estimate is based on the received information regarding the selected road segment and an assigned segment weight, 
 determines a predicted total travel estimate based on the generated travel estimates for each of the selected road segments, and 
 displays a map of a route comprising a subset of the selected road segments and a visual indicator of the predicted total travel time for each road segment in the subset, wherein the map and predicted total travel time are updated in real-time as new information is received regarding real-time traffic conditions. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the online data sources includes a calendar of events indicative of traffic for a predetermined set of road segments. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stored information regarding the one or more past traffic conditions include an historical speed for each of the one or more road segments at the past time of day. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user selection indicates a beginning location and an end location, wherein the plurality of road segments are between the beginning location and the end location. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the beginning location is identified based on a GPS-provided position of the user device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the beginning location is identified based on a position of the user device as indicated by one or more cellular base stations. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the assigned segment weight corresponds to one of segment length, base segment travel time, real-time segment travel time, segments associated with tolls, and weather forecasts. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of road segments correspond to a plurality of different routes, and wherein the processor selects the displayed route based on a specified user preference. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor further generates an alert when incoming real-time traffic information indicates that another route corresponds more closely to the specified user preference. 
     
     
         10 . A method for travel forecasting, the method comprising:
 accessing information over a communication network from a plurality of online data sources, wherein accessed information from at least one data source concerns one or more past traffic conditions pertaining to one or more road segments at a past time of day, and wherein accessed information from at least one other data source provides information regarding one or more real-time traffic conditions pertaining to one or more road segments at a current time of day;   receiving a user selection via a user interface indicative of a time interval and a plurality of road segments;   receiving past and real-time information regarding the selected plurality of road segments, wherein the retrieved information pertains to the selected time interval;   executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor:
 generates a travel estimate for each selected road segment, wherein the travel estimate is based on the received information regarding the selected road segment and an assigned segment weight, and 
 determines a predicted total travel estimate based on the generated travel estimates for each of the selected road segments; and 
   displaying a map of a route comprising a subset of the selected road segments and a visual indicator of the predicted total travel time for each road segment in the subset, wherein the map and predicted total travel time are updated in real-time as new information is received regarding real-time traffic conditions.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the online data sources includes a calendar of events indicative of traffic for a predetermined set of road segments. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stored information regarding the one or more past traffic conditions include an historical speed for each of the one or more road segments at the past time of day. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user selection indicates a beginning location and an end location, wherein the plurality of road segments are between the beginning location and the end location. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising identifying the beginning location based on a GPS-provided position of the user device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising identifying the beginning location based on a position of the user device as indicated by one or more cellular base stations. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the assigned segment weight corresponds to one of segment length, base segment travel time, real-time segment travel time, segments associated with tolls, and weather forecasts. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of road segments correspond to a plurality of different routes, and wherein the processor selects the displayed route based on a specified user preference. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising generating an alert when incoming real-time traffic information indicates that another route corresponds more closely to the specified user preference. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for travel forecasting, the method comprising:
 accessing information over a communication network from a plurality of online data sources, wherein accessed information from at least one data source concerns one or more past traffic conditions pertaining to one or more road segments at a past time of day, and wherein accessed information from at least one other data source provides information regarding one or more real-time traffic conditions pertaining to one or more road segments at a current time of day;   receiving a user selection via a user interface indicative of a time interval and a plurality of road segments;   receiving past and real-time information regarding the selected plurality of road segments, wherein the retrieved information pertains to the selected time interval;   generating a travel estimate for each selected road segment, wherein the travel estimate is based on the received information regarding the selected road segment and an assigned segment weight;   determining a predicted total travel estimate based on the generated travel estimates for each of the selected road segments; and   displaying a map of a route comprising a subset of the selected road segments and a visual indicator of the predicted total travel time for each road segment in the subset, wherein the map and predicted total travel time are updated in real-time as new information is received regarding real-time traffic conditions.